Universal padlock for locking together unequal objects



March 22, 1949. 0. w. cARLsoN UNIVERSAL PADLOCK FOR LOCKING TOGETHERUNEQUAL OBJECTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1946 Inventor DEA/ w.0/0/24 so A no meys March 22,1949. w, CARLSQN 2,465,008

- UNIVERSAL PADLOCK FOR LOOKING TOGETHER UNEQUAL OBJECTS Filed April 12,1946 2 Sheets-She.et 2

Atlorney:

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL PADLOCK FORLOCKING TOGETHER UNEQUAL OBJECTS 3 Claims.

1 The present invention pertains to an improved padlock intended for useto lock together ob-- ,jects of unequal shape, using chains for securingsuch objects.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- .vide a useful lock ofthis character which is solid, :strong, of simple construction, andwhich can be manufactured at small cost, and is of durable design so asnot to be tampered with.

Other advantages and characteristics will be 3 understood from thesubjoined description aided by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lock with the cover plate removed;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the complete lock with the cover platein position;

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2 showing the screw and spring inposition;

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 2 as seen from the right end thereof,and showing the relative position of the chain and the screw hole;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the cover seen from the inside;

Figure 6 is an end view of the cover plate as seen from the left ofFigure 5 with the lock barrel in place;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of Figure 5;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side view, top plan view and end viewrespectively of a conventional latch Figures 11 and 12 show inside endview and top plan view of the lock barrel, respectively;

Figure 13 is a front elevation of the lock assembled and cover plateremoved, showing the location of the parts in locked position and partlyin section;

Figure 14 is a vertical section along the line [4-H of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a similar section along the line I5--l5 of Figure 13;

Figure 16 is a partial horizontal section of the lock along the lineiii-l6 of Figure 13; and

Figure 17 is a side view of a chain securing screw.

In the several views of the drawing the same numerals denote the samedetails.

Reference numeral 20 indicates the block or body of the lock, with anopening on one side, which is closed by a cover plate 2|. The block 20has a middl chamber 22 containing the moving parts of the lock, and twopassages 23, 24 open at both ends for receiving and passing the lookingchains.

The chamber 22 contains two latch bolts 25, 26 each with a slanting nose2'! which points away from the entry end of the passage 23 or 24 for thechains 28 and 29. The stationary end of each chain is anchored as at 30by a securing screw 3|, slightly off center, the head 32 of which isthreaded in a lug 21a or 2Ib of the plate 2| extending into the chamber22 of the block 20 which is provided with a small hole 33 for enteringof the screw 3|. The latter has the double function of also serving as aguide for the latch bolt 25 provided with a projecting toe 36 with asmall aperture through which the straight shank of the screw 3| runs,allowing some play. Adjacent the screw 3| is housed a coiled spring 35which is compressed behind the toe 34 and the wall of the housing block20 thereby acting to push each of the latch bolts 25 and 26 outwards andto engage the nose 2'! with a link of the chain 28 or 29.

It will thus be understood that, for instance, the upper chain 28 beinganchored by screw 3| in the recess at 30, can have its free end insertedto any suitable distance in or through the passage 24 and locked thereinby the nose 2'! of its latch bolt 25, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, orto be withdrawn by turning of the lock barrel 36.

This barrel 36 is cylindrical, of conventional type to be operated forturning in the cover plate 2|, and is provided with a forwardlyprojecting fiat operating tongue 31 adapted for engaging a shoulder 38.facing oppositely to the lug 34 and nearer the rear end of the latchbolt 25. In the chain locking position, shown in Figure 13, when thenose 21 locks the chain, the tongue 3! stands upright (see Figs. 5 and6) contacting with its flat surface against the shoulder 38 when thespring 35 pushes the latch bolt outwardly in engagement with the chain28.

When the barrel 35 is turned by its key so that the tongue 3! standshorizontally, as in Figure 2, then the tongue 31 pushes the bolt 25inwards out of engagement with the chain, by the edge of the tongueacting against the shoulder 38 against the action of spring 35, and thelock is then open.

The securing screw 3| has still another function, namely to secure thecover plate 2| in position; the screw having a threaded head 32 engagingin a lug 2l-a or 2l-b respectively thereby holding the plate fast inposition.

It will be evident, that instead of having a lock with two chains asdescribed, only one of the chains may serve to lock two or more objectstogether. The chains have preferably fiat links.

It is to be understood that the invention as herein described and shownis not limited to the 3 details herein given, but may be modified withinthe scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

A universal lock of the class described, comprising a block having acentral chamber opening outwardly on one side, a face plate entirelycovering the opening, a passage across the body from top to bottomthereof, a chain, means for anchoring one end thereof near the topsurface of said body, the free end of the chain adapted for passingfreely through said passage from top to bottom, a latch bolt slidable insaid chamber and xtending into said passage to lock the chain, a springurging said bolt into locking position, and a cylindrical barrel mountedto turn in said cover plate and having a flat tongue protruding intosaid chamber and engaginga lug on said latch bolt to retain the boltagainst the spring action, when in one position and, when turned intoanother position, adapted to release the bolt into locking position,said anchoring means also serving to guide said lock bolt inits slidingaction and to secure said face plate to cover said opening on saidblock.

2. A universal lock of the class described, comprising a block having acentral chamber opening outwardly on one side, a face plate entirelycovering the opening, a passage across the body from top to bottomthereof, a chain, means for anchoring one end thereof near the topsurface of said body, the free end of the chain adapted for passingfreely through said passage from top to bottom, a latch bolt slidable insaid chamber and extending into said passage to lock the chain, a springurging said bolt into locking position, and a cylindrical barrel mountedto turn in said cover plate and having a flat tongue protruding intosaid chamber and engaging a lug on said latch bolt to retain the boltagainst the spring action, when in one position and, when turned intoanother position, adapted to release the bolt into locking position,said anchoring means also serving to guide said lock bolt in its slidingaction and to secure said face plate to cover said opening on saidblock, said anchoring means consisting of a screw having a head threadedin said cover plate and engaging with its point in said body and havingits shank positioned alongside of said spring and engaging said bolt forsliding.

3. A lock of the character described comprising a block having passagesextending therethrough from end to end thereof, two chains each anchoredat one of its ends to an end of the block, the free end of each chainbeing freely passable through one of said passages, lock bolts mountedin said block transversely thereof, spring means for normally urgingsaid lock bolts in opposite directions and toward projected positionsand with corresponding ends thereof extending into said passages forreleasably engaging links of the chain portions extending therethrough,said lock bolts comprising corresponding portions, adapted to receive akey therebetween, cooperating for the simultaneous retraction of saidbolts out of said passages when said key is rotated in one direction,said lock being provided with a recess in which said key is rotatablymounted, a cover for the block, and means for detachably securing thecover onthe block, said means additionally functioning for anchoring thefirst mentioned ends of the chains and for guiding said lock boltsintheir movements toward retracted or projected positions.

DEAN W. CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 507,948 Waine et a1. "Oct.' 31,1893 539,650 Searle May 21, 1895 1,069,646 Richter Aug.5, 1913 1,382,924McKee 'June 28, 1921

